Cycling: Gillow makes it three on end

SHARA Gillow has joined the legendary Kathy Watt with three consecutive Australian road cycling time trial championships.

Gillow made it three on end in emphatic style in the Mars Cycling Australia Road National Championships in Ballarat yesterday. And Watt, who was a five-time champion including a hattrick in 1992-94, was on hand to see Gillow emulate her achievement.

The retired Olympic gold medallist remains a regular on the national cycling scene as a photographer.

Gillow last year joined Sara Carrigan (2002-03), Oenone Wood (2004-05) and Carla Ryan (2007-09) as two-time winners in the past decade.

Gillow, 25, of Queensland, finished more than one minute clear of nearest rival Grace Sulzberger, with Victorian 35-year-old Felicity Wardlaw defying her age to get third.

Gillow rode the 29.2km course in 38 minutes, 36.59 seconds – averaging 45.4km/h on a circuit which began with a lap of Lake Wendouree and then featured an out-and-back course in the Avenue of Honour.

While another national title is a great achievement, Gillow is setting her sights on bigger things _ Europe.

“European cycling is where it is for us.”

Gillow has her eyes on the vacant mantle at the top of the discipline with the retirement of 2012 Olympic time trial champion Kristen Armstrong and German world champion Judith Arndt.

With a third national time trial title under he belt, Gillow is now looking for a big showing in Saturday’s road race.